Make my life a prayer to you
I wanna do what you want me to
No empty words and no white lies
No token prayers no compromise
I wanna shine the light you gave
Through your son you sent to save us
From ourselves and our despair
It comforts me to know you're really there
Well I wanna thank you know
For being patient with me
Oh it's so hard to see
When my eyes are on me
I guess I'll have to trust
And just believe what you say
Oh you're coming again
Coming to take me away
I wanna die and let you give
Your life to me so I might live
And share the hope you gave me
The love that set me free
I wanna tell the world out there
You're not some fable or fairy tale
That I've made up inside my head
You're God the son and you've risen from the dead
I wanna die and let you give
Your life to me so I might live
And share the hope you gave me
The love that set me free
-Keith Green
The first stanza of this prayer/song is my favorite. I feel these words refreshing me, drawing me back to the joy that’s been present for the past few days. I woke up tired, really tired, today. It was a late, strange night spent in Urgent Care with a student, and the morning came too quickly. I woke up with just enough time to get cleaned up and head straight to a meeting. I knew my attitude was sour, tired from the previous night and aching for the blizzard outside to stop. But as the meeting began, I found myself unbearably irritable. Everything annoyed me. The people, their responses, even the lights in the room.
I was grumpy, and I knew it. I felt so aware of my attitude. Instead of chalking it up to a bad morning, though, I began processing why I’d had such an abrupt change in perspective. In the past two weeks, I’ve been content and encouraged. Even when I’m tired or busy, I’ve sensed this consistent peace throughout each day. Today felt like a stark contrast.
I quickly realized that today was the first day in two weeks that I hadn’t started in God’s Word. My mind was all over the place, mostly on myself and my frustrations. Suddenly, I was craving truth. I wanted to get away by myself as soon as possible. It’s not that spending time with the Father is some kind of recipe for a good day, but it felt like I was in a cloud, just waiting for something truly good to show through.
It’s crazy how directly connected knowing God and his Word are to our ability to love others. When I’m disconnected from him, I am far from love. Today, I felt that in the most tangible way. I turned to this old song, Keith Green’s “Make My Life a Prayer to You”. I want to do what you want me to, Father. Not through quick prayers or shortcuts in my relationship with you, but in knowing your Son. If I know you and I give you my life, I am able to share your hope with others. I’m able to love people well.
Your Word is perfect; it revives my soul. I am learning this firsthand today, Lord. I need your Word. I feel disconnected and discontent without truth. So thank you for hope and knowledge of who you are, as well as your love that sets me free. I’m able to live connected to you and live for you because of your Son, our Savior. Let my life be a prayer of response to your love and Word to me.
Amen.